Influence of Culture, Politics, and Power on Organizational Behaviour

This article explores the influence of culture, politics, and power on organizational behaviour in the context of Waitrose supermarket. It discusses the importance of a strong workforce, the role of culture in maintaining productivity, the impact of power dynamics, and the effects of politics on employee motivation and performance.

ORGANISATIONAL
BEHAVIOUR

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................3
P 1 Influence of culture, politics and power on the behaviour in firm........................................3
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................5
P 2 Motivate individuals..............................................................................................................5
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................7
P 3 Effective team opposed to ineffective team..........................................................................7
LO 4.................................................................................................................................................9
P 4 Philosophies of organizations behaviour...............................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Organizational behaviour is the study of individuals and group performance in an
organization. Waitrose is having its headquarters in London, United Kingdom and has been in
this supermarket industry from the last 116 years. There are 52590 employees working in this
supermarket and Waitrose is having a net income of £123.3 million.
The report would be covering influence of culture, power and politics on behaviour in an
organization. Methods which are used by Waitrose to motivate the employees for better
operations and reputation. The philosophies which are being applied so that there is a better
functioning of the supermarket in the country.
LO 1
P 1 Influence of culture, politics and power on the behaviour in firm
It is very important to have a strong workforce in the organization so that the objectives
and goals of the business can be met faster. The productivity and operations have to match the
organizations expectations so that there is a better functioning.
Culture
Handy’s cultural Model
Task
The organization must make the sure all the employees have been allotted work or task
according to their skills and interest so that the organization can maintain their quality. The
employees also have to be rewarded for the kind of hard work which they are putting in the
organization. A motivated workforce is going to help the company to be able to have a clear
direction in which the company must work (Yusof, Yaacob and Rahman, 2019). The
productivity and operations is going to make the customers get the demand and expectation they
have from Waitrose.
Person
It is very important that the employees feel that they are very much important and needed in
the organization. The culture has to be maintained and no one should feel superior to others
because that will get in inefficiency in the organization. This is going to make the operations and
productivity decrease in the organization so that there is a better functioning. The employees

must know how to work together so that they can have better functioning and higher
productivity.
Power
The decision in the organization is taken by limited people while the others feel demotivated
in the organization (Pradhan, Kumari and Kumar, 2017). Which is why it is very important that
the organization to include the workforce in the decision making as well so that there is a better
functioning. The people who have power should not misuse them and monitor and control the
employees in the best way possible.
Role
In Waitrose the roles of the entire workforce are distributed effectively with good
communication so that the objectives and goals can be achieved. This gets in a sense of clarity in
the organization and the behaviour of the employees can be maintained.
Politics
Chantel’s politics help the organization to understand the roles and characteristics of the
people. There is a de-motivation because of politics in the organization and reduces the
reputation and expectations of the customers as well (Shah, Anwar and Irani, 2017).
Individual Factors
The individuals who lose interest in work they find other methods to complete the work
which make the quality of the organization fall. There is a negative environment for the
workforce to work in which is going to make the employees not want to work in the company.
The workers of Waitrose were not being able to concentrate on work because of the politics
which is being played in the organization which is affecting the performance of all individuals.
Organizational Factors
The rewards in the organization are being given to those who are giving their best but a lot of
time in Waitrose the employees who are doing politics in the company are being appreciated
which leaves the other employees not want to work hard (Salas-Vallina, Alegre and Fernandez,
2017). This is making the reputation and brand image of Waitrose decrease in the country which
is a great loss for the organization.
Power
French & Raven Theory
Reward

There are extra privileges, wages, promotions, bonus, etc which are being given to the
employees of Waitrose so that they continue to work effectively in the organization. Motivation
is going to make the employees give their inputs as well to make decisions so that there is a
better functioning.
Expert
There are skilled and experienced employees working in Waitrose which is going to making
the processing and functioning effective. The motivation in the workforce is going to increase
and the organization must be able to have better outcomes.
Referent
There are people in the organization who get attention and promotions because of their
charms, looks and attitude. This is going to make the other employees jealous and the company
will not be able to have a good productivity for a long run in the market. The conflicts in the
organization are going to increase and the organization will not be able to achieve their goals and
objectives (Chang and et.al., 2016).
Coercive
The firm has the right punish or fire the employees who are not matching the expectations
and standards of the organization even after training and development which has been provided
to them. This can make the company lose their effective employees but because of the fear the
employees will give their best. This is a very effective role for the organization to have better
leaders and employees at the same time.
Legitimate
The power is clearly in the hands of ECO, owners and executives. The employees can feel
unfamiliar with this and the performance can fall which is why when the powerful authorities are
making the decisions they must include the employees of the organization as well so that there is
a better functioning. The targets and objectives are set and there has to be a good communication
as well (Khan and et.al., 2018).
LO 2
P 2 Motivate individuals
There is going to be an easier functioning in the organization when the employees are
motivated. The goals and objectives of the company are effectively matched because of the

workforce efficiency in the company. The further report is going to discuss the motivation
theories which are being used by Waitrose.
Content Theory
This theory helps the organization to understand the needs of human and the changes
which is coming in that from time to time. This theory can help businesses to change and
motivate the individual’s behaviour (Alqahtani, 2018). Herzberg’s two factor theory is the best
theory to explain this factor which is beneficial for Waitrose.
Herzberg’s two factor theory
There are two factors in this model which are motivator and hygiene which can make the
individuals have job satisfaction. Both the factors are considered by Waitrose in the organization
so that there is a better functioning.
Motivator
When recognition is not given to the deserving employees then the organization is not being
able to function effectively in the market. Right skilled employees should be given the work they
are interested in so that they can give their best. There are promotions which are being allotted to
deserving employees in the organization so that they can continue to put in their best to achieve
the objectives.
Hygiene
The physical conditions of the employees have to be good which are the internal factors have
to be safe and healthy. The politics in organization is going to make the functioning of the
employees reduce which is why Waitrose is always finding ways so that they can take the best of
their workforce (Leithy, 2017). Right wages and right respect has to be given to all the
employees only then there is going to be job satisfaction in the organization.
Process theory
To investigate the needs and satisfy them this theory is very helpful so that the
organization can achieve their goals and objectives.
Reinforcement Theory
BF skinner developed this theory which states that all the functions which are being
performed have a consequence. This theory is based on law of effect which is that human have a
tendency to repeat the positive consequence more than negative.
Positive reinforcement

Waitrose is having a positive reinforcement in the organization for the employees. The
employees are rewarded, given bonus and promotions from time to time. This is making the
organization have a better reputation in the country and in the countries win which the company
has expanded.
Negative reinforcement
The organization will have a negative growth in the market when the employees not
motivated (Elsmore, 2017). Even after the training and skilling the employees so that the
standards can be matched but the employees do not then the company takes strict actions like
firing or not promoting them further. This is going to motivate the employees so that they start
giving their best in the company.
LO 3
P 3 Effective team opposed to ineffective team
Effective Team
An effective team will make the organization have higher innovations and creativity in
the company so that there are improvements which can be done by Waitrose supermarket.
Experienced and skilled employees share their experience in the company which can be very
positive for the growth.
Ineffective Team
The goals and objectives of the organization are not going to be met if there is an
ineffective team (Alasad, 2020). The communication gap, conflicts and productivity of the
organization is going to reduce which is not a good sign for the company.
Tuckman’s Theory
There are a lot of stages which have been explained in Tuckman’s theory for an effective
team to be able to achieve their objectives and goals on time.
Forming Stage
There have to be selection of right employees for the task which is going to be analysed.
There has to be proper planning which needs to be done for achieving the goals which is having
a timeline for the tasks which have to be done. This is going to get clarity and better functioning
which is a very good factor for organization.
Storming Stage

In this stage there are going to be inputs taken of all the employees and there are a lot of
conflicts which can rise in the organization. This is going to make the decision making process
slower but the right measures will be taken for the organization (Safi, Azouri and Saliba, 2018).
Norming Stage
The workforce in organization has to get to know each other so that there is a smoother
functioning and there is going to be an effective functioning.
Performing Stage
In this stage the employees are ready to work with one another and make the organization
achieve their goals. The chances of conflicts reduce by this stage which is a very good factor.
Factors affecting effective team
Communication
The communication is very strong in Waitrose supermarket which is making the company
get a competitive advantage in the market. Communication gap can get in a lot of differences in
the organization like conflicts and distribution of work is not going to be good (Balwant, 2018).
The productivity and operations in the organization are also going to reduce which is why it is
very important for the company to be able to maintain their communication in the organization
so that the internal factors of the company can be strong.
Leadership
There are effective leaders which have been hired in Waitrose supermarket so that there is a
better effectiveness in the company. There is a sense of direction so that the organization does
not have in effective functioning in the market. There is a standard which is created by Waitrose
in the market which has to be matched.
Team size
Larger the group more conflicts which are going to rise in the organization which is why the
teams should be small so that they can understand and work as team to achieve the goals
(Narzary and Palo, 2020). There are going to be more ideas which can generate in an
organization so that there is a better functioning. Smaller the size more focus can be paid on all
the employees working in the organization so that the brand image and reputation of the
company can improve.

LO 4
P 4 Philosophies of organizations behaviour
Path goal theory
To have a better representative’s everyday it is very for the company to be able to have better
theories and this theory is going to get in clarity in the organization. The leaders of the
organization follow this theory so that the operations and productivity in the organization can be
maintained.
Directive path
It is very important for the leaders to control and guide the employee’s sand also allot duties
and responsibilities so that the organization can achieve their goals and objectives (Abdullahi
and et.al., 2017). There has to be a well maintained reputation and productivity in the market
because the demands of the customers are increasing which has to be matched by the
organization.
Achievement
There have to be a communication of the targets and goals with the employees so that they
know how much work has to be done so that they can achieve their goals. The leaders must
capture their trust so that the employees listen and follow the leaders blindly.
Supportive leader
There has to be a healthy environment for the employees and professionals relationship
which needs to be created by leaders so that there is a better functioning which is going to help
the company be able to achieve their objectives and goals (McShane and et.al., 2018). The issues
of the employees have to be solved from time to time so that there is no negative impact on the
employees.
Participative Leaders
There should be a participation of all the employees in the task which has to be made sure by
the leaders which is going to make the employees be motivated. This can also create a positive
relation in the organization which is good for a long run in the market.
Custodial organizational behaviour model
The leaders and managers have to think for the safety of the employees this is going to
make the organization have a better image in the market. There are few factors which have to be
improving in Waitrose which are incentives, healthcare and retirement plans of the employees so

that there is a better functioning. This is going to attract more customers in the organization and
the company will be able to get more customers (Carlisle and Ramudu, 2019). To have a
development in the performance and satisfaction of the employees the needs will have to be
fulfilled by the organization. The financial packages of the employees will have to be worked
upon so that there is a better functioning and the loyalty of the employees is also going to
improve.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that there is a need for organizations to
understand the cultural, political and power role in the organization so that the right decision can
be taken for the future. There is a lot of imbalance in the organization when the company does
not have politics and other important factor under control. The satisfaction level of the
employees if also going to make the organization have a better functioning and productivity so
that the organization can get higher profit margins.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Abdullahi, Z.J and et.al., 2017. Emerging Interest in the Intermediating Role of Work Life
Balance and Organisational Citizenship Behaviour: A Position Paper.
Alasad, H., 2020. The Impact of Agile Processes on Organisational Behaviour Within Current
Banking Practice (Doctoral dissertation, Auckland University of Technology).
Alqahtani, M., 2018. The impact of organisational justice on employees’ job performance and
helping behaviour: a multilevel approach (Doctoral dissertation, Aston University).
Balwant, P.T., 2018. The meaning of student engagement and disengagement in the classroom
context: Lessons from organisational behaviour. Journal of Further and Higher
Education. 42(3). pp.389-401.
Carlisle, J. and Ramudu, R.B., 2019, September. Enhancing organisational citizenship behaviour:
The impact of training effectiveness and employee attitudes. In British Academy of
Management Conference: BAM 2019 (pp. 2-33).
Chang, K and et.al., 2016. HR practice, organisational commitment & citizenship
behaviour. Employee Relations.
Elsmore, P., 2017. Organisational Culture: Organisational Change?: Organisational Change?.
Routledge.
Khan, J and et.al., 2018. Do fellow-feelings and organisational harmony matter for logistic
firms?. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics.
Leithy, W.E., 2017. Organisational culture and organisational performance. International
Journal of Economics & Management Sciences. 6(42). pp.1-10.
McShane, S and et.al., 2018. Organisational behaviour.
Narzary, G. and Palo, S., 2020. Structural empowerment and organisational citizenship
behaviour. Personnel Review.
Pradhan, R.K., Kumari, I.G. and Kumar, U., 2017. Human resource flexibility and organisational
effectiveness: mediating role of organisational citizenship behaviour. International
Journal of Human Resources Development and Management. 17(3-4). pp.282-300.
Safi, H., Azouri, M. and Saliba, T., 2018. Organisational justice impact on employees' behaviour
at the workplace. EuroMed Journal of Management. 2(4). pp.301-307.
Salas-Vallina, A., Alegre, J. and Fernandez, R., 2017. Happiness at work and organisational
citizenship behaviour. International Journal of Manpower.
Shah, N., Anwar, S. and Irani, Z., 2017. The impact of organisational justice on ethical
behaviour.
Yusof, J., Yaacob, H.F. and Rahman, S.A.A., 2019. Organisational Citizenship Behaviour,
Leader-Member Exchange, Psychological Empowerment and Workplace Spirituality:
A Review. International Journal of Business and Social Development (IJBSD). 1(1).
pp.54-65.